Quick Answer
To highlight the floral aromatics and bright, structured acidity of Colombia Linarco Rodriguez Pink Bourbon, use a pour over method with a medium-fine grind, a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio, and water just off the boil (around 95°C). Start with a 45-second bloom, then pour in stages to keep the bed even. This approach lets the coffee's clarity and sweetness shine.
Pink Bourbon has become one of Colombia's most sought-after varieties, prized for its clarity, floral aromatics and bright, structured acidity. When you have a bag of Colombia — Linarco Rodriguez Pink Bourbon, you want to make sure you're getting the most out of those delicate flavors. Brewing it well is about respecting the bean's character and using a method that highlights its strengths.
Colombia — Linarco Rodriguez Pink Bourbon
In this guide, we'll walk through a pour over recipe tailored to this coffee, explain what to expect in the cup, and share tips to avoid common mistakes. Whether you're new to specialty coffee or a seasoned home brewer, these steps will help you unlock the full potential of this exceptional lot.
Understanding Pink Bourbon's Flavor Profile
Pink Bourbon is a natural mutation of Bourbon, and it's known for its complex, floral, and fruit-forward characteristics. The Colombia Linarco Rodriguez lot undergoes an open fermentation for around 48 hours at approximately 15°C, which helps develop its clarity and sweetness. After fermentation, the coffee is washed and slowly dried for 25 days, preserving its delicate aromatics.
In the cup, expect bright, structured acidity with floral notes and a clean, sweet finish. The flavor profile is often described as tea-like with hints of stone fruit and citrus. Because of this delicacy, a brewing method that highlights clarity—like pour over—works best.
- Look for floral aromatics, bright acidity, and a clean finish.
- Avoid over-extraction, which can mute the delicate notes.
Choosing the Right Brewing Method
Pour over is an excellent choice for Pink Bourbon because it emphasizes clarity and brightness. The Kalita Wave, with its flat bottom, offers a larger surface area for the coffee bed, promoting even extraction. That's why it's a favorite on specialty coffee bars and for home brewers alike.
If you prefer a different method, a V60 can also work, but you'll need to be more careful with your pour to avoid channeling. For this guide, we'll focus on the Kalita Wave for its consistency and forgiving nature.
- Kalita Wave provides even extraction and is beginner-friendly.
- V60 offers more clarity but requires more technique.
The Ideal Grind Size and Water Temperature
For pour over, a medium-fine grind is a good starting point. It should feel like sea salt—not too coarse, not too fine. If your brew tastes bitter or astringent, grind coarser; if it tastes sour or weak, grind finer. Adjust based on your taste.
Water temperature around 95°C (203°F) is ideal for Pink Bourbon. Boiling water can scald the delicate flavors, while cooler water may under-extract. If you don't have a variable-temperature kettle, let the water sit for 30 seconds after boiling.
- Start with a medium-fine grind, adjust based on taste.
- Use water just off the boil, around 95°C.
Step-by-Step Brewing Guide
- Step 1: Measure and grind: Weigh out 15 grams of coffee and grind to a medium-fine consistency, similar to sea salt. Use a burr grinder for consistency. Checkpoint: The grind should feel slightly finer than table salt but not powdery.
- Step 2: Heat water and prep filter: Heat 250 grams of filtered water to 95°C. Place a filter in the Kalita Wave and rinse it with hot water to remove paper taste and warm the brewer. Checkpoint: Discard the rinse water before adding coffee.
- Step 3: Add coffee and bloom: Add the ground coffee to the dripper and level the bed. Pour 45 grams of water in a slow, circular motion to saturate all grounds. Let it bloom for 45 seconds. Checkpoint: The coffee should bubble and expand. If it doesn't, your beans may be too fresh or too stale.
- Step 4: Main pour in stages: After the bloom, pour water in three stages: add 70 grams, wait 30 seconds, add another 70 grams, wait 30 seconds, then add the final 65 grams. Keep the water level just above the coffee bed. Checkpoint: Aim for a total brew time of about 3 minutes. If it's faster, grind finer; if slower, grind coarser.
- Step 5: Swirl and serve: When the water has drained, give the brewer a gentle swirl to flatten the bed. Remove the dripper and pour the coffee into your cup. Checkpoint: Enjoy immediately. The coffee should have a clean, sweet finish with bright acidity.
Product Facts
- Colombia — Linarco Rodriguez Pink Bourbon: Pink Bourbon has become one of Colombia’s most sought-after varieties, prized for its clarity, floral aromatics and bright, structured acidity. The lot underwent an open fermentation for around 48 hours at approximately 15°C. Once fermentation is complete, the coffee is washed and transferred to covered dryers where it dries slowly for 25 days. This processing method preserves the coffee's delicate floral and acidic notes, making it ideal for pour over brewing that highlights clarity.
- Kalita Wave Coffee Dripper: This Kalita Wave 155 Dripper features prominently on most specialty coffee bars around the world, and is widely adopted for brewing excellent pour over coffee by industry professionals and coffee beginners alike. Quality needs consistency - some brewers have one but few have both. The Kalita Wave solves these with: A flat bottom that creates a larger surface area for the bed of ground coffee. The flat bottom ensures even extraction, which is key to bringing out the bright, floral notes of Pink Bourbon without bitterness.
Brewing Pink Bourbon from Colombia Linarco Rodriguez is all about highlighting its delicate floral and acidic notes. With the right grind, water temperature, and a consistent pour, you can enjoy a cup that's bright, sweet, and full of clarity. Experiment with the recipe to find your perfect balance, and don't be afraid to adjust based on your taste.
